August 2026

Hana Lavallee-Lewis

Hana and her family relocated from Boston to Riverside this past August so that her 5 year-old could attend CSDR. She is happy to report that it's been a much smoother move than anticipated, never having even been to Riverside before moving here. A lot of her free time is spent parenting, exploring the area with her family, desperately trying to find alone and yoga time, and trying to learn some of the names of the medicinal plants in this area.

Hana's mom's cousin is an ASL interpreter in New York and Hana always was pulled to learn the language but didn't get around to it until after undergrad. She took her first community ASL classes at the American School for the Deaf in 2002 and from there started taking classes and volunteering in the Deaf community in Boston. She worked in the Deaf community, in the fields of public and mental health, prior to moving into interpreting in 2010, in Washington, DC.

She's grateful for the opportunity to get to know this area and community through her work as an interpreter and hopes maybe some day she'll actually be in the correct lane at the correct time on the freeway.

Rose Quezada

Rose Quezada began working as a RISE Signing Aide in July 2023 after graduating from college. After stepping away for about a year, she returned to RISE in September 2025—a decision she describes as one of the best she has made (and we are equally excited to have her back!). Rose shares that RISE helped shape who she is professionally, and we see that demonstrated by her work ethic and people centered approach to working with students.

Rose’s journey with American Sign Language began at a young age. Her mother, a former interpreter, introduced her to ASL while she was growing up, fostering an early appreciation for language access. She continued her ASL education in high school, taking ASL 1–4 before continuing her studies in college, where she fell in love with both the language and Deaf culture. A Deaf high school teacher also played a significant role in inspiring Rose to pursue interpreting, reinforcing her strong sense of community connection and respect for the culture.

Guided by a people-centered approach, Rose is committed to supporting individuals in ways that prioritize their communication needs and overall well-being. Her background in special education allows her to thoughtfully RISE to the challenge in environments that include unique learning and communication demands, while building trust with those she serves.

Rose’s professional goals include obtaining her NIC state certification and, in the future, interpreting in the courts or within child services—settings where accuracy, advocacy, and trust are essential. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new coffee shops and spending quality time with her family. A fun fact about Rose: she holds a master’s degree in special education and is one of five siblings!

National CORE & Hope Through Housing

National CORE develops and operates affordable apartment communities that help families, seniors, and individuals build stable futures.

National CORE, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit affordable housing developers, provides quality affordable housing at more than 200 communities across California and Texas, representing over 15,000 apartment homes. Their professionally managed communities provide safe, welcoming places where income-qualified families, seniors, and individuals can thrive. They also offer a limited number of market-rate apartment homes in Fort Worth, Texas and San Bernardino County, California.

Hope Through Housing is dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty and building social equity by implementing programs that empower individuals and change communities. They deliver outcomes-based programs and services to low-income residents within 100+ National CORE apartment communities across California, Florida, and Texas.

How they work with the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community

National CORE works specifically with the community by providing accommodations and services to allow for equal opportunity and enjoyment of supportive housing projects. This includes access to interpreting and captioning, training for staff to better understand and serve this community, and the opportunity for residents to give feedback and participate in the process. Additionally, they partner with local community agencies that provide social, financial, materials, and counseling support.

For the past 4 years, RISE Interpreting has also supported their agency by providing Intro to ASL and Deaf Culture Awareness classes, helping staff strengthen communication, accessibility, and cultural understanding when working with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing residents.

Visit Haven CORE Communities

Back to School Availability

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TB Screening

Is your TB Screening due this year? Check with HR to find out!

Hydration Reminder

Don’t forget to Hydrate! Hydration is critical because your body is composed of roughly 60% water, making it necessary for virtually every vital bodily function. Without adequate fluid intake, your cells shrink, organs experience stress, and everyday physical tasks, become noticeably harder to perform.

Joke of the Month

Orion’s belt is a big waist of space. Terrible joke – only 3 stars.